The New Cool in parking garage design

Kaynemaile has reimagined two thousand-year-old chainmail into a unique architectural mesh product called Kaynemaile-Armour which is now specified and installed on parking garages around the world. Kaynemaile was established in 2006 after company CEO and founder Kayne Horsham successfully developed a liquid state assembly process to develop lightweight chainmail armour for architecture — a world first — taking chainmail out of the Iron Age and into the 21st century world of modern science.

Made from high-grade polycarbonate (the same material used in aeroplane windshields and astronaut helmets), Kaynemaile-Armour is extremely robust and impact resistant. Weighing close to half a pound per square foot, the lightweight nature of the mesh is one of the reasons architects, designers and engineers are so excited about the material. It can be used in place of steel sheets or metal mesh and dramatically cuts the static load on buildings. This means labor costs for installation are reduced, a bonus in today’s construction market.

How Kaynemaile-Armour works to keep your parking garage cool

Kaynemaile-Armour’s unique 3-dimensional structure significantly reduces both radiant and thermal conductive heat from entering the building envelope by up to 70%. This means air conditioning system design costs can be reduced.

Steel mesh products are highly thermally conductive and transfer radiant heat into the building raising the internal temperature. The high-grade polycarbonate of Kaynemaile Armour remains at a near ambient temperature, even at the height of summer. The mesh also enables free airflow movement of up to 80 percent thanks to its unique three-dimensional structure. This provides a significant cooling effect with greater airflow movement than traditional two-dimensional steel panels.

There are 3 key factors at play:

Deflecting sunlight: The Kaynemaile-Armour facade system has been shown to deflect up to 70% of visible and infrared light waves, which are linked to overheating. The Kaynemaile-Armour system provides an alternative route to solar gain protection. In many environments, shading systems like Kaynemaile-Armour have been shown to be even more effective at managing interior temperatures than costly, retrofitted glazing.

Insulative properties: Steel mesh products are highly thermally conductive, so under direct sunlight, their temperature rises and they transfer radiant heat into the building. In contrast, Kaynemaile-Armour mesh is made from a high-grade polycarbonate, which is an insulator. Our mesh remains at a near ambient temperature, even at the height of summer, moderating the thermal environment, and reducing its running costs.

Cooling properties: In our three-dimensional mesh structure, a high proportion of the mesh surface area is always in shade, which helps to control temperatures. In addition, as air passes through the cross-sectional open area, it provides a cooling effect. A typical two-dimensional steel mesh or perforated sheet offers much lower visible open area, significantly less airflow, and higher air temperatures, increasing the building’s overall thermal load.

Enagua at the Runway, Playa Vista, Los Angeles, California, USA

In 2015 Kaynemaile worked with American artist Ned Kahn on a unique kinetic installation as part of the new Playa Vista development in the Westside neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Situated at the Runway, a mixed use social and retail destination at the heart of the Playa Vista development, the 98-foot-tall kinetic installation wraps around the parking complex facade, connecting the streetscape to the various access points and the upper floors of the surrounding buildings.

The kinetic installation is named Enagua after the garment which adds volume and fullness beneath a dress. The rippling Kaynemaile Armour ribbons resemble billowing fabric.

Although LA is not known for high winds the installation takes advantage of a wind channel from the nearby Pacific Ocean that blows through the installation and keeps the Kaynemaile-Armour moving.

The unique design of the Playa Vista installation evolved though extensive collaboration between Kaynemaile, Ned Kahn and his team and the project architects Johnson Fain of Los Angeles.

Loma Linda University Hospital

Kaynemaile-Armour was recently installed on the Loma Linda University parking garage facade in San Bernardino, California. The hot, dry climate of San Bernardino meant sun protection and airflow were critical requirements in the design.

The solar reduction properties of Kaynemaile-Armour provide enhanced passive heat reduction to the interior of this busy parking garage.

With a fast install time and simple fixing details Kaynemaile-Armour exceeded the project requirements, providing enhanced air flow through beautiful louver-like strips.

Transforming a utilitarian parking garage into a stunning visual landmark

The design for the parking garage at Westfield’s Pacific Fair shopping center at Broadbeach, Australia was inspired from the waves and golden sand of the nearby Pacific Ocean. During the day the sun sparkles off the ten million or so individual rings of the champagne colored front screens. At night the rear layer of translucent sea green colored Kaynemaile-Armour creates a rippling wave, highlighted by well-placed architectural lighting and moved by the ocean breeze.

The three-dimensional facade was designed as a series of vertical strips and fabricated to allow for a fast install, ready to go out of the box. This meant the strips could be installed easily at any point along the facade depending on site requirements.

"Using Kaynemaile really invigorated this project for us. It turned a parking garage into a compelling architectural statement".

Multistory single piece screens

Kaynemaile’s most recent parking garage project, on the Agostino Group building in Adelaide, South Australia for Commercial & General was clad using only eight individual screens – the biggest being a seamless screen 190 foot wide x 52 foot high.

Making large screens with Kaynemaile-Armour is possible as the material is incredibly lightweight and can be manufactured in seamless pieces to any size. Kaynemaile-Armour’s large screens don’t require the same level of fixings or substructure as traditional metal mesh products.

With install speed in mind Kaynemaile designed fixing systems to allow these large screens to be lifted and fixed off in a day, significantly reducing road closures and disruptions to the surrounding neighborhood.

Kaynemaile-Armour mesh is now being used to beautify and protect interior and exterior environments globally and is recognized by major players in the design and construction world for its incredible functionality and innovative properties.

Download the Kaynemaile-Armour Tech Sheet

Kaynemaile Architectural mesh is a patented, world-leading innovation. We think the benefits of the Kaynemaile product are extraordinary.

Fire Resistant

Kaynemaile mesh achieved a Group 1S in the AS/ISO 9705 room test (equivalent to the NFPA 286 room corner test). With an ASTM D 2843 smoke index of 70.9°, ASTM 635 HB-CCI and NFPA 701-pass. We use FR-V0 material that is rated self-extinguishing. Contact Kaynemaile for more specific information for your location.

Unlimited Screen Size

We are not limited by panel size—we can make our screens to any height or width without joins or distracting gaps. This gives you freedom at the design concept stage that other materials don’t. Making our screens to the size you need them means less structure, less fixings, and less time on site.

Super-Fast Installation

Kaynemaile-Armour is lightweight (3kg per square metre) and goes up fast, cutting down the install time dramatically and saving costs. Our fixing systems are simple and we don’t need the same level of sub-frame as metal products. This means our installed rate is more cost effective than metal or glass panel products.

For more information on fire resistance and other benefits of our mesh, visit our Technical page.

Case Studies

Pacific Fair Carpark Facade, Gold Coast Australia

Kaynemaile collaborated with Scentre Group’s design team—turning a carpark into a stunning functional and highly visible landmark. The wave-shaped facade...Read More

Loma Linda University Carpark Facade, San Bernardino, LA

Built for hospital patients and visitors as part of the extensive campus project, the brief for this car park called for a visually captivating design with material efficiencies... Read More

'Enagua' Welcome Tower for the Runway at Playa Vista, LA

A collaboration with Ned Kahn: From the beginning, the intent was to merge art and architecture so that there was no dividing line between the two... Read More